Senior Counsel, Community & Government Affairs

Howard Hughes•Honolulu, HI

1d•$125,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

Ward Village, a Howard Hughes master-planned community, is a 60-acre master-planned community in the heart of Honolulu, located between downtown and Waikīkī, along Honolulu’s south shore. Honoring the distinct history of its land, Ward Village is at the forefront of sustainable community development - integrating dynamic architecture, local culture, and public open space. At full build-out, the community will include approximately one million square feet of unique retail and thousands of homes, in what Architectural Digest named “Best-Planned Community in the United States.” The Howard Hughes Communities (HHC) owns, manages and develops commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate throughout the U.S. Its award-winning assets include the country’s preeminent portfolio of master planned cities and communities, as well as operating properties and development opportunities including: Columbia, Maryland; The Woodlands®, The Woodlands Hills®, and Bridgeland® in the Greater Houston, Texas area; Summerlin®, Las Vegas; Teravalis, Phoenix; and Ward Village® in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Howard Hughes Communities’ portfolio is strategically positioned to meet and accelerate development based on market demand, resulting in one of the strongest real estate platforms in the country. Dedicated to innovative place making, the company is recognized for its ongoing commitment to design excellence and to the cultural life of its communities. Howard Hughes Communities is a subsidiary to Howard Hughes Holdings, trading on the New York Stock Exchange as HHH. About the Role The Senior Counsel, Community & Government Affairs is an outward-facing leader responsible for advancing Ward Village’s position in the community and helping navigate the regulatory, political, and stakeholder environment surrounding the business. In collaboration with HHC’s real estate development team, other business units, and external consultants, this role nurtures, develops, and maintains relationships with relevant local, state, and federal government stakeholders while developing and executing community relations strategies that generate broad support for HHC objectives. This role serves as a key advocate for Ward Village across public relations, government relations, community relations, charitable partnerships, Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) coordination, and strategic issue management. The position requires a comprehensive understanding of applicable laws, administrative rules, land use approval processes, and Honolulu development issues to effectuate the goals for Ward Village. This person will help Ward Village achieve its development vision by directing a first-class community and government relations program that protects current entitlements, supports future development approvals, and reinforces Howard Hughes as a valued member of the local community. The ideal candidate is a respected, credible, and effective communicator who understands Honolulu’s planning process, governmental structure, local culture, and real estate landscape, and who can represent Ward Village thoughtfully and strategically with external stakeholders.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in community relations, government relations, public affairs, external affairs, real estate development, advocacy, or a related field, ideally with direct experience in Honolulu.
3+ years of experience as a licensed legal practitioner with experience in real estate law.
Strong understanding of Honolulu’s planning process, governmental structure, local political landscape, and community dynamics.
Commercial real estate, master-planned community, land use approval, and/or real estate development experience strongly preferred.
Experience managing press engagement and working knowledge of real estate, development, and public affairs issues.
Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with stakeholder groups, local, state, and federal elected leaders and senior staff, city and county officials, executive branch representatives, industry partners, and community stakeholders important to advocacy efforts.
Proven, effective verbal and written communication skills and interpersonal skills necessary to interact with a broad range of constituencies and key stakeholders, with the judgment to represent the company effectively in both public and private settings.
Outgoing yet grounded leadership style, with demonstrated ability to lead teams, collaborate with internal and external resources, leverage relationships to advance strategic interests, and advocate externally while collaborating well internally.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to lead and coordinate multiple workstreams at once.
Sound judgment, political awareness, and the ability to manage sensitive issues with discretion.
Effective problem solver and creative thinker with a proactive, resourceful approach.
Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and operate effectively in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities.
Availability to attend evening and weekend meetings, events, hearings, or community engagements as business needs require.
Bachelor’s degree required.
Legal degree required.
Passionate, entrepreneurial, dedicated to success, and committed to building constructive relationships that support Ward Village and HHC’s long-term community objectives.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.

Responsibilities

Serve as a visible, reliable, accessible, and trusted external representative and liaison for Ward Village and HHC across community, government, media, public speaking, stakeholder, and written correspondence settings.
Provide strategic input, advice, and positioning to leadership on community sentiment, regulatory risk, political dynamics, stakeholder concerns, and external affairs priorities.
Maintain an in-depth working knowledge of current and planned Ward Village projects and regularly brief internal leadership on key developments, meetings, risks, and opportunities.
Closely monitor issues of concern and relevance to community stakeholders, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and help create constructive solutions that support Ward Village and HHC objectives.
Oversee third-party public relations partners and related consultant engagement.
Lead press release development, message coordination, and strategic communications planning, including community-facing messaging around HHC goals, initiatives, current and future Ward Village properties, and responses to questions or concerns.
Shape local messaging, including positioning, media strategy, presentations, and other outward-facing communications tools.
Prepare and coordinate written deliverables including memos, presentations, meeting agendas and minutes, correspondence, press statements, project briefings, talking points for senior management, formal remarks, public hearing testimony, and other materials related to community and development issues.
Serve as a spokesperson as needed on project, community, and business matters.
Lead engagement with local, state, and federal government officials, city and state agencies, regulators, zoning authorities, and public bodies affecting Ward Village projects and operations.
Manage relationships and issue coordination with the regulatory agencies.
Oversee legislative and government affairs strategy, including coordination with outside advisors where appropriate.
Manage engagement with Neighborhood Boards, City Council, and other elected or appointed officials.
Represent HHC at the community level by attending relevant public meetings, hearings, and proceedings, including those held by the City, HCDA, zoning authorities, Neighborhood Boards, and other civic bodies.
Monitor regulatory and legislative matters that may affect Howard Hughes assets in Hawai‘i and coordinate response strategies as needed.
Evaluate and manage legal issues arising from Howard Hughes’ ongoing engagement of the various government and administrative bodies.
Build and maintain strong relationships with neighbors, local resident groups, businesses, construction unions, cultural organizations, educational institutions, nonprofits, civic and advocacy groups, community partners, and neighborhood stakeholders.
Engage respectfully and constructively with a broad range of individuals and organizations, manage resident and neighbor concerns, and support resolution of legal, operational, and communications matters.
Oversee construction impact notices and proactive communications regarding neighboring buildings and construction impacts.
Support resident engagement initiatives, events, and master-planned community marketing coordination.
Guide park and plaza activation efforts and help ensure community programming supports the broader Ward Village brand and experience.
Help build broad-based local support for Ward Village through consistent outreach, education, and relationship management.
Disseminate community-facing messages in the field and maintain consistent outreach that reinforces trust, transparency, and constructive engagement with local stakeholders.
Formulate recommendations for HHC’s local philanthropy strategy and help oversee charitable giving tied to Ward Village and related Howard Hughes priorities, including ensuring compliance with applicable laws and rules.
Maintain ongoing administration and implementation of designated philanthropic and community-facing efforts and initiatives, including routine fundraising and charity-related activities.
Work with beneficiaries and partners to reinforce thoughtful, long-term strategic relationships with organizations supported by HHC and identify prospective new recipients aligned with community priorities.
Maintain recurring dashboard tracking of regulatory requirements and related compliance items.
Coordinate submissions, documentation quality control, and internal review workflows.
Support State Historic Preservation Department (SHPD) communications, archaeology and cultural survey communications, and stakeholder communications in coordination with internal and external teams.
Partner with development, construction, and legal teams to ensure compliance with applicable laws and that regulatory commitments are tracked, communicated, and executed.
Support due diligence and legal compliance efforts tied to land control, subdivision actions, easements, variances, encroachments, and city right-of-way matters.
Coordinate with utility providers and subprojects.
Assist with environmental studies, Department of Health matters, hazmat issues, and historic assessments.
Monitor and help resolve project issues and legal matters that require coordination across public agencies, consultants, and internal business teams.
Support representation and issue monitoring across active buildings.
Monitor legal and operational issues affecting residents, associations, and neighboring properties and elevate risks early.
Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of transactional documents, with a focus on commercial contracts, purchase and sale documents, joint venture agreements, commercial leasing agreements, and related real estate documents.
Manage and provide strategic advice on complex issues related to commercial and residential development, financing, operations, acquisitions, and dispositions.
Provide legal support in coordinating transactions, working collaboratively with internal teams, external counsel, and other stakeholders.